Las Crucitas, Potrerillos

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Engineering
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Las Crucitas is located within the municipality of Potrerillos in the department of El Paraíso in central Honduras. Children in the community have access to education up to ninth grade. Most of the community members work in agriculture. The top needs expressed by Las Crucitas’ inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades include medications for the community’s health center and improvements to the water system.

Municipality: Potrerillos
Department: El Paraíso

Homes : 115
Population : 800
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : No
Homes with Latrines : 95%
Education : Up to 9th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 30 min

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS

The Honduran government provides two different types of health centers throughout rural Honduras: Centros de Salud Médico Odontológico (CESAMOs) and Centros de Salud Rural (CESARs). CESAMOs are the larger of the two, often found in municipalities, and typically have at least one physician on staff at all times with nurses and potentially a dentist. CESARs are found sporadically in rural communities and generally have a single nurse available. Even with this coverage, it is important to note that medications, supplies, and materials are often not available in these health centers and the physician density in Honduras remains around 1,220 people for every one doctor. According to the World Health Organization, there should be a maximum of 435 people per physician to qualify a country as having adequate access to medical attention.

There is a CESAMO located in Las Crucitas. However, it rarely has the necessary medications. The most common illnesses reported by community members include diarrhea, the common cold, tonsillitis, diabetes, and arterial hypertension.

Statistics included are from brigades indicated with an asterisk (*) in the brigade list.

258

Brigade Volunteers

3,496

Patient Consulations

198

Vision Screenings Provided

124

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of Las Crucitas does not yet have Community Health Workers. Global Brigades Honduras’ Medical Program is working diligently to train volunteers as CHWs in its partner communities as part of the Holistic Model. Las Crucitas will receive training as soon as possible to further support the health of its community members.

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Las Crucitas attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in the community’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s eight classrooms. Each day of the brigade, an average of 7 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 552
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: SABANA REDONDA, LIMONCILLO, JUNQUILLO

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LAS CRUCITAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade May 2013 23 University of California Los Angeles Medical Brigade June 2014 66
Carroll University Medical Brigade January 2015 23 Tuoro College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade May 2015 24
MacMaster University Medical Brigade & Lethbridge University Medical Brigade May 2016 23 University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Brigade December 2016 28
Louisiana State University Medical Brigade May 2017 44 College of William and Mary Medical Brigade March 2023 15

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

DENTAL CARE ACCESS

Working closely with the Medical Program, the Dental Program provides fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments as a standard part of medical brigades. Most community members do not have regular access to dental care due to the lack of a dentist within a reasonable distance.

Statistics included are from brigades indicated with an asterisk (*) in the brigade list.

271

Patient Consultations

225

Number of Extractions

164

Fillings Performed

45

Dental Education Workshop

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Las Crucitas attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in the community’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s eight classrooms. Each day of the brigade, an average of 7 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 552
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: SABANA REDONDA, LIMONCILLO, JUNQUILLO

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LAS CRUCITAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade May 2013 23 University of California Los Angeles Medical Brigade June 2014 66
Carroll University Medical Brigade January 2015 23 Tuoro College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade May 2015 24
MacMaster University Medical Brigade & Lethbridge University Medical Brigade May 2016 23 University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Brigade December 2016 28
Louisiana State University Medical Brigade May 2017 44 College of William and Mary Medical Brigade March 2023 15

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Crucitas but has not yet begun with the Engineering Program. Now in the planning phase, the evaluation of the community’s existing water system and design of any necessary improvements will start as soon as feasible.

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Gravity
Homes with Access to Water : 95%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Crucitas but has not yet begun with the Water Program. Now in the planning phase, the implementation of any improvements to the community’s existing water system will follow the Engineering Program’s assessment and start as soon as feasible.

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Gravity
Homes with Access to Water : 95%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Crucitas but has not yet begun with the Business Program. Now in the planning phase, a community bank will be established as soon as feasible, followed by market studies and investment in an anchor business to provide additional capital.

Community Bank : No
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture
Existing Microenterprises : N/A

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Crucitas but has not yet begun with the Public Health Program. Now in the planning phase, the financing, delivery, and installation of household health infrastructure products will start as soon as feasible.

Homes with Latrines : 95%
Homes with Eco-Stoves : N/A
Homes with Water FIlters : N/A
Common House Materials : N/A

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature